By Tim Mastro

DOVER — The number of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in Delaware dipped below the 500 mark for the first time in 2022, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health’s daily update on Thursday.

DPH reported 498 individuals hospitalized with the virus — the lowest total since Dec. 30. Hospitalizations set an all-time high of 759 on Jan. 12 and have been on the downswing ever since.

It represented a decrease of 23 compared to the day prior. However it is still above last winter’s peak of 474, set on Jan. 12, 2021.

New Castle County still has the most hospitalizations with 290, which was a decrease of 25 compared to the day prior. Kent County’s COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped by three, down to 74, while Sussex County was the only county to see an increase in Thursday’s report, rising by five to 134.

Of the 498 statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations, DPH said 49 cases are considered critical.

All hospitalization data via DPH reflects data as of Wednesday at 6 p.m,

DPH announced one new COVID-19-related death, bringing the state’s total to 2,494. The death was an 88-year-old Kent County resident who was unvaccinated, according to DPH.

There were also four COVID-19-related deaths included in Wednesday’s report, which was delayed. Those four individuals were also all unvaccinated. Three were from New Castle County and one was from Sussex County.

DPH reported 1,550 new positive cases of the virus in Thursday’s report, bringing Delaware’s total to 244,730. The state is averaging 1,576.6 new cases per day over the last seven days — the lowest seven-day rolling average since Dec. 29.